In the week ending Aug. 20, there were 1,817 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 9% were from COVID-19.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
Illinois top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 20
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 391 | 21.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 389 | 21.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 101 | 5.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 91 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 73 | 4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 72 | 4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 57 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 46 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 36 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 1.2 |
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